Pancreatic Cancer: Healthy Living Tips

If you can, eat foods high in protein several times a day. These foods include milk, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, meat, fish, eggs, beans, peanut butter and nuts. Protein helps build and repair tissue, and cancer treatments cause you to use more protein than usual.

Eat low-residue, low-fiber foods such as those included in the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast).

Drink more fluids, such as water and broth, to prevent dehydration.

Fatigue

Take short rests when you feel tired. Avoid long naps during the day so that you can sleep well at night.

Add mild exercise, such as walking, to your daily routine. It may help you sleep better.

Save your energy for important tasks.

Drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration leads to increased fatigue.

Take action to treat a poor appetite, because eating improperly can make you tired.

If your fatigue is severe or chronic, ask for help with routine tasks that can drain your energy, such as grocery shopping or housework. Some people reduce their hours at work.

Ascites (Fluid in the Abdomen)

Reduce the amount of sodium and restricting the intake of fluids can help, although this regimen may be unpleasant and difficult to follow.

Diuretics are medications that reduce the amount of water in the body. Although diuretics are effective and well tolerated in most people, they may cause unpleasant side effects in some people, including loss of sleep, skin problems, fatigue, low blood pressure, and problems with self-esteem.

If ascites is causing respiratory (breathing) problems or the diuretic treatments stops working, therapeutic paracentesis may be recommended.

Chemotherapy is appropriate only for people with certain cancers, such as lymphoma or breast and ovarian cancers; however, chemotherapy is used to manage ascites in rare cases.

In rare instances, surgery may be required, which involves placing a shunt (a device used to bypass or divert fluid from one place to another) or catheter (a small tube placed into a vein temporarily) to drain fluids from the abdomen.

Hair Loss (Alopecia)

Consider cutting your hair short before treatment starts.

Think about getting a wig, hat, or scarf before your hair loss starts. That way, you can get a wig that matches your hair, and you will be ready with head coverings, if you choose to use them.

Because your scalp may be more sensitive to temperature and sun, protect it with sunscreen and hats or scarves.

Ask your doctor about getting a prescription medicine to control nausea and vomiting. Then make sure you take it as directed. If you are vomiting and cannot take the medicine, call your doctor or nurse again.

If you have bothersome nausea and vomiting even though you are taking your medicine, call your doctor or nurse. Your medicine can be changed.

Try eating foods and drinking beverages that were easy to take or made you feel better when you’ve had the flu or were nauseated from stress. These may be bland foods, sour candy, pickles, dry crackers, ginger ale, flat soda or others.

Do not eat fatty or fried foods. The smells from hot foods may make your nausea worse.

Ask your doctor or nurse if he or she can help you learn a relaxation exercise.

This may make you feel less anxious and more in control and decrease your nausea.

Ask your doctor or nurse about using acupressure bands on your wrists, which may help decrease your nausea.

Pain

Take pain medications regularly; do not wait for your pain to become severe (take steps to avoid constipation, a common side effect of pain medications).

Change your activity level. See if you feel better if you rest more or move around more – either may help.

Distract yourself with music, funny videos or computer games.

Use relaxation techniques, such as yoga or meditation, or guided imagery exercises. Ask your doctor or nurse where you can learn more about these.